Ornamenting plated ware



(No Modl.) v

P. s. SHIRLEY.

,Ornam'eHting Plated Ware.

NO. 239,562. Patented March 29,.1881.

Iwvenhr N-PEI'ERS FHOYO-UTMOGRAPHEL WASHINGTON. nc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FREDERICK S. SHIRLEY, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORNAM ENTING PLATED WARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,562, dated March 29, 1881.

Application filed April 22, 1880. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. SHIRLEY, of New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornamenting Plated or Silver Ware; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex? act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a new method of ornamentation for plated or silver ware; and it consists in attaching enameled decorations or ornamental pieces of glass in the manners that will be more fully described hereinafter, whereby a new and very beautiful effect is produced by contrasting colors of all kinds with the white color of the metal.

Articles of silver ware and electroplated metals, as made for table use and similar purposes, have heretofore been ornamented by contrasting burnished and dead surfaces combined with oxidizing, gilding, or bronze finishes, and show a lack of contrast and effect; and it is to overcome this defect that my invention is intended.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a bowl for a cake or fruit stand. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a caster. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a pitcher or other similar device.

A represents the bowl of a cake or fruit stand, which has a head or flange, B, projecting outward around its circumference at any suitable distance below its top edge. Passed down over the top edge of this bowl, so as to rest upon the top of this flange B, is an ornamental band, C, of glass or other ornamented material, and which fits tightly around the upper edge of the bowl, as shown. Where this band is made of glass, as in this instance, a suitable elastic packing, either of cement, rubher, paper, or any other substance, is placed between the band and the metal, so as to give the glass band afirm bearing-surface, and thus prevent it at any time from becoming loose, or from allowing any of the plating compound, water, or other liquid from getting in behind the band. Where these glass bands are applied before the plating of the article is completed by the battery or any other process, this cementwill prevent any of the liquid from getting behind the glass band, and afterward running down over the side of the bowl and tarnishing its surface. Another benefit derived from this elastic packing is that it strengthens the glass and allows the article to be shaken and handled much more roughly without the slightest danger of being broken. After this band 0 hasbeen secured in place the top edge of the bowl is soldered or otherwise secured in place, and this top edge has a flange, which projects out over the top edge of this band O,so as to hold it in place. If so desired, this top flange may be turned down over the glass band for the purpose of giving a neat and finished appearance.

The bowl A and the foot F of the stand are made in separate pieces, and connected together by means of screws, in the usual'mauner, and over this upright part, which unites the bowl and foot together, is passed an ornamental glass sleeve, H. Inside of this sleeve, and between it and the metal, is placed a suitable elastic packing, which serves to hold the sleeve in position more securely, and to prevent it from being broken. As both ends of this sleeve are hidden or covered by flanges on the bowl and foot, no joint between these parts can be seen, and a very beautiful and ornamental appearance is produced.

Instead of the ornamental bands or sleeves being made of glass, they may be made of any sheet metal having an enameled surface. By using sheet inetallhaving an enameled surface, instead of glass, the ornamental bands can be much more readily and easily applied and secured in place. a

In Fig. 2 is shown another method of securing the ornamental parts in position. Instead of having the ornamental bands so as to extend entirely around the article, the bands are made in two or more pieces, and the joints between these pieces, which are inserted in each.

panel, are covered over by an ornamental strip, I, which extends from one edge of the panel to the other. The ends of these ornamental pieces passing under these ornamental strips, which are raised slightly upward for this purpose, no joint can be seen. In order to still more securely hold each orn amentation in place,

' a small hole or holes are bored through it at any suitable points, and then a screw having an ornamental head is passed through it and the metal underneath. Being thus held at the ends by means of the ornamental strips, and by a screw or screws between the ends, each ornamentation will be held securely in place under all circumstances. In this caster only two panels are shown, but it is evident that there may be any desired .11 umberof them, and that any desired contrast may be made between the colors.

terial, as already described.

In Fig. 3 is shown a water or molasses pitcher, of any suitable shape or construction, and which has secured around its lower edge an ornamental band, and running diagonally down the sides of the pitcher are narrower ornamental bands, upon which fiowers,fruits,or any other figures may be made.

- The great trouble in ornamenting silver and white-metal ware heretofore has been that the metal was too soft to have any of the enamels burned upon them, and therefore there has been'no known means heretofore of decorating them. Myinvention supplies a long-felt want in this direction,and enables designs ofall kinds and in all colors to be applied to silver and plated ware in such a manner as to give them a much more ornamental and beautiful appearance, and at a very slight expense.

Where the ornamental portions are made of glass they will, of course, have to be molded in molds made especially for them, and then afterward finished in the usual manner.

Although but three articles are here shown, 1

have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of May, 1878.

itis evident that this method of ornamentation can be applied to all articles of table use that are made of silver or plated ware.

' In ornamenting metal ware, as described, I do not limit myself to strips or hands, as any form of piece can be readily adapted for the purpose and used as inserted panels having These glass or ornamental" bands maybe backedbya suitable elastic m'a.-.'

I also, in some cases, decorate pieces with 'eiiameled bosses or rounding-faced pieces having the back portion flat or of suitable form to suit the article it is to be applied to, and these I affix either by having suitable fastenings made into the same, or spin a metallic case to the back, which can then be soldered to the article, or have a screw soldered to it to make it a removable ornamentation. By spinning a metal casing on the pieces I obtain a more varied effect, as it leaves a metallic edge, which can be gilt, thus increasing the variety and contrast of ornamentation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim''.

1. The combination, with an article of plated k ware for table use, of an ornamental glass or enameled decoration applied thereto and held in place, substantially as shown.

2. The combination, with an article of plated ware for table use provided with suitable shoulders or flanges B, of a glass band or'other deco ration, 0, made of a fragile substance, and an elastic packing or substance placed between the article and the decoration, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I FRED. S. SHIRLEY. 

